Garage-door-operating mechanism



Aug. 14, 1928.

' 1,680,517 J. R. HARRIS I GARAGE DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J9 j .1 W 4 JJ J 15 *fli? "'ZiJ/i, Inventor Jase W 72 Harm's l 35 6 By E wax m.

Z4 Attorney Patented Aug. 14,1928.-

UNITED sTA ss PATENT OFFICE."

. ,Josnrn 3. mm: wasnmeron, nrs'rmc'r or comment.

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' Application filed larch 22, 1927. Serial in. 177,442 a This invention relates to a garage door operating mechanism of the ty more par ticularly adapted for use in comunction with a single. or double swinging door.

6 M An object of the invention resides in pro- "viding a substantially simple, and yet efii-- cient swinging door operating mechanism, in which an operating arm is pivotally connected by a suitable link mechanism tothe l door to be operated and has a suitable clutch connection with an operating and control mechanism by which suitable power operated means, operates through a predetermined cycle to first open and then close the l 'door under suitable manual control.

The invention further provides a novel construction of operating the control mechanism employing an electric motor having suitable control means'adapted to be oper ated from a suitableint outside of the building onwhich the oors are mounted to produce a cycleof operation in the mechanism to open the doors to further control it in a predetermined manner, to subsequently roduce a cycle of operation to close the oors, the door 0 rating mechanism being provided with suitable means for normally ocking the doors in closed sition, whic is adapted to o erate the 100 'ng means for D unlocking the dhors, at the time the mechanism operates to open the doors, suitable means being provided to permit free manual operation of the doors upon the failure of j operation of any portion of the mechanism. I The invention comprehends numerous other objects residing in the specific construction and'assembly of the parts which are all more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description and in the I claims directed to a referred form oi the invention, it being understood however, that various changes in the size, shape and relation of the parts may be made without de partingfrom the spirit and scope of the i lnvention as hereinafter set forth.

In thedrawings forming part of this application Figure 1 is an inside fragmentary elevation of the door portion of a building, showing a pair of swinging doors, and the improved invention for operating the doors operatively applied to the door jambs connected with'the doors, the parts being shown in the closed position of the doors.

line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

overlapping tongue is provided with sprin Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing as the operating mechanism for the door, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the Fig. 4 is a sectional view line 4- 4.of Fig. 1.

Fig. '5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail view clutch members.

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connection with the several switches for controlling operation of the electric motor. This invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with automobile gara es and the likewherein the garage is provi ed with a door jamb 1 to the side portions of which are hinged a pair of doors 2, adapted to have the free edges meet in the central portion of the 0 ening formed by the jamb 1, and usually 0 such construction that the edge portion of one door has a tongue overlapping the other door.

The edge portion of the door having the taken on the taken on the of the operating pressed latches 3 of any suitable and desire character, well known in the art, which as shown in Fig. 4, are adapted to enga e in back of the plate 4, seated in the 'rab eted portion of the door jamb 1, in the upper 90. central portion thereof. The latch at the bottom of the door engages in a suitable socket or the like in the floor 5, so that when the doors are moved into closed posi- 1 tion, the latches 3 will be automatically op- 05 erated to move into locking coo eration with the plate 4 and similar means in the floor 5 for effectively locking the doors in closed position. Below the upper edge, the door 2 provided with the latches 3, mounts a suitable bracket member 6 having one laterally extended end secured to the door, and the opposite end extended laterally in s aced relation to the door, indicated at 7 in ig. 4.

This end 7 of the bracket member 6 is provided with an opening which slidably receives the plunger 8 of the latch operating mechanism, having one end pivotally corn nected to the rock lever 9 rotatably mounted in the bearing bracket 10 secured to the door 2 by means of a suitable-cast extension.

The opposite end of the shaft extension of the rock lever 9 carries an arm 11 secured thereto in the central portion, and having the free ends pivotally connected to connecting rods 12 which at the opposite ends are pivotally connected to the latch members 3 in order that motion in one direction of the rock lever 9 through the operation of the plunger 8 will have moved the latches 3 into unlocking position, and permit the doors to be opened, this operation taking lace against the normal tendency of the late es to move into lockin position.

A plurality of hearings in icated at 13, are mounted on the under face of the upper portion of jamb 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 1, with a rotatably mounted door operating shaft 14, which is also adapted for a limited sliding movement for a purpose which will be described.

This shaft 14 carries the plunger engaging arm 15 adapted to engage the free end of the plunger 8 and through a small arc of rotation or movement thru rotation of the shaft 14, is adapted to release the latches and unlatch the doors so that they may be moved to the open position.

A pair of door 0 eratin arms 16 are mounted on the sha t 14 adjacent the opposite-ends thereof and have the free ends normally depending or extending downwardly 1n the closed position of the doors as shown in the drawings. On the lower end of each arm 16 is rotatably mounted a suitable block member 17, to which is pivotally secured the slotted head 18, threadedly receiving one end of the connecting rod 19. The latter is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the link which has a pivotal connection at right angles to the pivot with the rod 19 on a suitable bracket 21, secured to the door 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The head 18 is slotted as indicated at 22, in Fig. 1, in order to permit of a movement of the arms 16 in the initial operation of the shaft 14, for opening the doors through the arc of movement required by the plunger operating arm 15 for operating the plunger 8 to release the latches from lockmg cooperation with the jambs, and permit the doors to be opened.

The threaded link connection 19 with the head 18, and the pivotal connection of the link 20 with the bracket 21 and the rod 19, being at relative right angles provides a suitable universal joint arrangement to com-- pensate for the relative motions between the several parts in opening and closing the door.

One end of the door operating shaft 14 mounts the male clutch member 23 more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 8 which has the clutch pieces 24 on the free end thereof adapted for clutching engagement in the recess 25 of the female clutch member 26. This female clutch member is mounted on a stub shaft rotatable in the bracket 27 carried by the angle bracket 28, and which at its opposite endmounts the bevel gear 29.

The coiled spring 30 interposed between one of the bearings 13 and. the collar 31 mounted on the operating shaft 14, serves to normally maintain the piece 24 on the male clutch member 23 in engagement with the female clutch member 26 and in interlocking cooperation in the sockets thereof. A suitable hand lever 32 is provided with an eye portion 33 receiving the operating shaft 14, and positioned adjacent to the collar 31 on said shaft, and for enga ement therewith.

The free end of the land lever 32 is provided with an offset foot 34, which is pivotally secured to the jamb 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. By the manual operation of the hand lever 32, the shaft 14 may he moved axially through the bearing 13 against the tension of spring 30 for disengaging the clutch seat 24 from the recess 25, and which will permit of the manual opening of the doors, as a result of which the sheet 24 will be moved out of alinement from the slots 25, during the opening and closing movement of the doors. As soon as the doors have reached the closed position, the projections or seat 24 on the male clutch member 23 will drop into recesses 25, and reconnect the clutch members, for a purpose which will presently appear.

The angle bracket mounts also, on its opposite free end, a bearing 35 rotatably supporting the upper end portion of the vertical power transmitting shaft 36, carrying the beveled gear 37, intcrmeshing with the beveled gear 29 on the stub shaft, carrying the female clutch member 26. The lower end of said power transmitting shaft 36 turns through the sectional cover plate 37 over the pit 38, in the floor of the garage or other building, adjacent one side of the door.

The lower end of. the shaft 36 has suitable bearing supports at 39 as shown in Fig. 2 in the base plate 40.

The power operating mechanism for the doors includes the electric motor 41 mounted on the base plate 40, the drive shaft of which is connected with and operates the worm 42. rotatably mounted in the bearing extension 43 on the base plate. This bearing extension 43, also rotatably supports a shaft carrying the worm gear 44 intcrmeshing with the worm 42, which also mounts the beveled gear 45 of small diameter intermeshed with the large beveled gear 46 carried by the shaft 47. This shaft 47 is rotatably mounted in the arm 48 formed on the base 40 at the upper end, and in a suitable stub hearing at its lower end, the upper end of the shaft 47 ill) carrying the arm 49, to which is pivotally secured the head 50, slidably-mounted on one end of the connecting rod 51.

The opposite end of the connecting rod 51 is pivotally secured in one end of the link 52, having a pivotal connection at right angles to the pivot with the rod on the free end of the operating arm 53 mounted on the power transmitting shaft 36.

A suitable automatically operated switch mechanism includes the switch base 54 carried by the brackets 55. This switch base carries a pair of spaced parallel posts 56, to the free ends of which the intermediate portions o f mo'vable switch-blades 57 are pivotally seternately engage the contacts 59 at opposite ends of the base 54. the switch being shown so that the pair of blades 57 are in engaged relation with one pair of contact posts at one end of the base.

A suitable switch operating arm 60 mounted on the shaft 36. and is provided with a lateral extension 61 on the free end thereof, which is adapted in the operation of the doors to engage the insulating locks 53;, carried by the ends of the switch blades 5 Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 9, it is to be noted that the posts 56 of the control switch particularly in Fig. 7, are connected by a pair of wires 62, to the opposite terminals of the motor 41, which operates the doors. The conductors from a suitable source of power are indicated at 63 which have a pair of connecting wires 64 establishing circuit connection with the stationary contacts 59 at one end of the base 54, and the circuit is controlled by the circuit closer 65 in one of the connections. so that the o eration of the circuitcloser 65 will control te operation of motor ,41. to control the switch blades 57 which are engaged with the contacts 59 to which wires 64 are connected.

Suitable wire connections 66 extend from the supply line 63 to the terminals 59 at the other end of the switch base 54 of the control switch. as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and the circuit for the motor through these conductors 66 is controlled by a suitable key operated switch generally diagrammatically indicated at 67 in Fig. 9.

The operation of the control switch by the lateral extension 61 is such that when the door is moved to the closed position shiiwn in Fig. 1, the circuit through the"key-opswitch blades 57 from the contacts 59. It will thus be seen that should the key be left in the switch, with the switch in the closed position, that the door will be immediately opened and will continuously operate to the open and closed poSitiOns it both switches 65 and 67 are maintained closed.

In operating the doors it is to be assumed that they will be normally retained in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the key has been removed from the key controlled switch 67 which may be of any suitabel type known to the art. The switch 65 will also be maintained in open position so that when it is desired to open the doors for any purpose, the key operated switch will be suitably closed by the use of the key, which through the position of the control switch blades 57 being engaged with contacts 59 will close the'eircuit to the motor 41 through wires 66.

This closing of the circuit will energize the motor which always rotates in the same direction and moves the arm 49 to rotate the same through a one-half revolution which is through the connecting rod structure 51 and associated parts will operate the arm 53 and rotate the shaft 36. This in turn, will rotate the operating shaft 14 which in its initial movement through first few degrees of rotation, will actuate the arm 15 for operating the plunger 8 and disengage latches at the top and bottom of the doors, so that the doors may be moved to the open position. As soon as the arm 15 has operated to release the latches, the lock members 17 reach the end of the slots 22, and serve to operate the rod members 19 and swing the doors open outwardly on their hinge supports in opposite directions.

When the doors reach the open position, the arm 60 carrying the lateral extension 61 engages one of the end pieces 58 carried by the switch blades 57 and rocks the switch blades on their pivotal mountings to open the circuit through the wires 66 and switch 67, and close the circuit through the wires 64.

As the switch member 65 is normally open,

the motor will stop and the doors will be held in the open position.

As soon as it is desired to close the doors,

the switch 67 is moved to the open position by removing the key, while the switch 65 is manually operated to the closed position, energizing the circuit to the motor which will produce another one-half revolution of arm 4.9 in the same direction as heretofore, through the crank connection 51 to draw the arm 53 backwardly to the position shown in the several figures in the drawings, the rotary motion of the motor and arm 49 being transmitted to a reciprocating motion on the arm 53.

This reverse motion will draw the arm '16 carried by the operating shaft 14' downwardly and through the rod connections 19, will move the doors into closedposition. As soonas the doors reach the closed position, the latches will engage and lock thesame, while arm 601carrying the lateral extension 61 will operate the switch blades 57 to rock the sameand open the circuit thru the wires 64 and close the circuit through the wires 66,

but as this circuit has previously been opened, at the switch 67, the motor will become deenergized with the parts in closed-position.

The operating mechanism for the door including the rod 1.9 and the operating arm 16 with the shaft 14 and associated parts, serve to hold the door in closed position in addition to the operation. of the latches 3, and even though the latches are released, the doors cannot be opened, unless the motor is operated by closing the circuits through the switches as above described.

The construction of the arm 60 having the lateral extension 61', is such that it will effectively operate the switch blades 57 by engaging-the cross pieces 59 on the op osite ends thereof, and should the arm pass t is normal position, it will be seen as shown in F ig. 7, that it is free to rotate further without damaging the switch, and move the blades 57 so that the same are adapted to engage the other contacts 59.

This protects the switch and permits of uneven movement of the shaft 36 and arms 60 at thesame time'obtaining the efficient operation of the parts.

Should the powercircuit to the motor lie-- come de-energized rcnderingthe operating mechanism of the door inoperative for any reason, as frequently occurs, and should any part of the mechanism be rendered inoperative, the doors can still be operated manually by moving the hand lever 32 to disengage the male clutch member 23 from the female clutch member 26, and as soon as the lugs 24 on clutch member 23 are disengaged from the'clutch 25, and the latch 3 is operated, the doors may be moved to open position.

As soon as the lugs 24 have been moved out of line from the slots 25, the hand lever may be released, and the ends of the pro jections will ride on the end face of the clutch member 26, during the opening and closing movements of the doors' As soon as the doors are closed, however, the lugs 24 will drop into the slots 25, in the closed position, and again lock the parts ready for operation by the motor, as well as provide their usual cooperation to hold the door said shaft to produce the opening and closing operation of the doors, means operated by the last named means for controlling the' opening and closing movement of said doors in a predetermined manner, and a manually operable clutch carried by the operating shaft having disengageable connection with the first named means and operable to selectively permit independent manual operation of said doors relative to said means and the source of power.

2. A door operating device, comprising an operating shaft, means mounted on said operating shaft and connected with the doors to be operated, and adapted in the oscillated movement ofv said shaft in a predetermined manner to open or close said'doors, locking means mounted on the doors for normally locking the doorsin closed position, means carried by said operating shaft and for operating the locking means to release said doors for opening the movement, reciprocating power transmitting means connected withsaid oscillatable shaft, a rotary source of power for driving said reciprocating power transmitting means, means controlled by said ower transmitting means for controlling t e operation of said source of power in a predetermined manner, and manually operated means controlling the operation of said source of power in cooperation with the last named means in a predetermined manner.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH R. HARRIS 

